Holden Suburban is a very large 4WD, good towing workhorse and spacious people mover. The Suburban can seat up to nine adults, though a more realistic use is seven adults and two children – nothing else comes close in this designed-for-the-USA giant. It can also carry their luggage, whereas other big 4WDs can seat eight people, but lose most of their luggage room when the rear seats are occupied.
A rebadged Chevrolet, the Holden Suburban was only imported from February 1998 until January 2001, though the last of them weren’t sold for several months after that.
Though it appears gigantic, Holden Suburban is only half a metre longer and 150 mm wider than a Commodore station wagon. On suburban roads it fits comfortably into traffic lanes and is easy to place in traffic. When turning sharp corners at crossroads you need to make allowance for the extra length, otherwise the required driving technique is pretty much as usual.
Parking? That can be the downfall of the Suburban in tight suburban areas. It has a reasonable turning circle of 13.7 metres, and a moderate height of 1.9 metres, so it can be slotted into most spots by an experienced driver.
Off-road the big Suburban copes easily. Though its paintwork is likely to suffer in tighter situations as shrubs and tree branches drag down its flanks, so plan ahead if you want to do serious off-road driving.
Suburban can tow 2.7 tonnes with the 5.7-litre petrol engine and 3.4 tonnes with the extra-heavy-duty 6.5-litre turbo diesel. All Australian Suburbans came as standard with a towbar.
Suburban uses part time four-wheel drive with a high-low range transfer box. It can be shifted from two-high to four-high and back at speeds of up to 100 km/h, but must be stopped for shifts from four-high to four-low and vice versa. The front hubs engage and disengage automatically.
Fuel consumption isn’t as bad as you might expect. Somewhere about 15 to 18 litres per hundred kilometres in suburban driving, dropping to ‘only’ 12 to 14 litres per hundred on the highway. Suburban has a huge 159-litre fuel tank.
Build quality – the Suburban is screwed together in Mexico – is reasonable, though nowhere near the high standard of Japanese or Australian cars.
The big underbonnet space means you can do a lot of your own work without doing any real damage to your knuckles or your temper. Pick up a workshop manual before you start, and stay away from safety related items unless you are a professional.
Insurance charges are usually moderate but it’s worth shopping around as there seems to be quite a difference between premiums from company to company. This policy range isn’t unusual in relatively rare vehicles. As always, make sure you’re comparing apples with apples, and be aware a longtime relationship with one company can be a valuable asset.
Call to your local Holden dealer to check whether they stock parts, or get them in from elsewhere – or are no longer interesting in the vehicle.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Listen for squeaks and rattles during your test drive as these are often a sign of heavy duty use and/or poor driving style.
Look over the complete interior for signs of damage, some Suburbans are used as heavy-duty work vehicles and may have done a lot of work. Don’t forget the boot.
The engines, particularly the turbo-diesel, are on the crude side and relatively noisy. If they seem too bad call for an expert opinion.
Check the engine starts easily and idles smoothly within a few seconds of kicking over.
Acceleration should be smooth and constant. There will be hesitation due to turbo lag from the diesel, too much could indicate troubles.
Also listen for a turbo-diesel with too much of a whine from the turbo.
The big four-speed automatic transmissions are generally pretty good, but beware of one that’s slow to change and/or hunts between gears, especially when hill climbing.
Inspect the underside for damage caused during off-road driving. Also look at the bumper corners and the paint on the body sides.
CAR BUYING TIP
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